Method for mining and loading coal



Aug. 16, 1949. R. PEALE ET AL METHOD FOR MINING AND LOADING COAL 6Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 4, 1944 m m M QPW mwum Wm wwulimk wmi mmkiwmuINVENTORS 15:1 BY My,

HTTO/INfy R. PEALE ET AL METHOD FOR MINING AND LOADING COAL Aug. 16,1949.

6 Sheets-Sheef 2 Filed May 4, 1944 wk 3 3 m? 3% E Aug. 16, 1949. R.PEALE ET AL 2,479,132

METHOD FOR MINING AND LOADING COAL Filed May 4, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 3arrow/6) Aug. 16, 1949. R. PEALE ET AL 2,479,132

METHOD FOR MINING AND LOADING COAL Filed May 4, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 3!i If! H? T I z ML /j-4 INVENTORS Aug. 16, 1949. R. PEALE ET AL 2,479,132

METHOD FOR MINING AND LOADING COAL Filed. May 4, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 5Jigs Aug. 16, 19 49. PEALE AL 2,479,132

METHOD FOR MININGAND LOADING COAL I Filed May 4, 1944 Sheets-Sheet 6Patented Aug. 16, 1949 METHOD FOR MINING AND LOADINGCOAL Richard Peale,Clearfield, Pa., and Rembrandt Peale, J r., Greenwich, Conn., assignorsto themselves, as trustees Application May 4, 1944, serial No. 534.030 7Claims. (01. 252-1) This invention relates to coal mining and moreparticularly to a novel and useful method for mining'and loading minedcoal, especially in mines where the seams are very thin, that is to say,generally seams 30 inches or less in height.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims. V

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations, and improvements herein shown and described. V

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together withthe description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is the plan view of the interior of a mine room showing somewhatdiagrammatically a mobile loader embodying the invention in varioustypical operating positions for loading out shot-down coal at the faceof the room;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan of the forward portion of said mobile loader;V

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of those parts of the loadershown in Fig. 2;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are diagrammatical views showin the adaptability of theloading head to various pitches and conformations of the floor of amine;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary diagrammatic side elevation of the loader headshowing same in a typical loading operation under a mass of shotdoWncoal;

Fig. 8 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 showing various operatingpositions of the loader;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of a cutting machine designed to operatein accordance with the invention;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing loading from an inclined bottom.

Fig. 11 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 showing the use of the loaderremoving and gobbing bottom rock.

The invention also comprises a novel and useful method of under-cuttingor kerfing the solid coal face before shooting same down, so as tofacilitate the rapid and efficient operation of the loader and also toenable thecoal to be loaded with a minimum of handling and breakage. Inall respects the invention is particularly directed 2 to the mining andloading'of bituminous coal in low seam mines where the head space is solow that men cannot work comfortably orfefficiently and where theenlarging of the'head space by re moval of bottom or top rock is costlyand unproductive when done by hand. Because of these mining conditions.an eificient'machi'ne must be held to the lowest possible overallheight, yet must be'able to handle the largest possible amount ofmaterial in its leading movements, the thinness of the seam of coalmaking it necessary for the machine to traverse alarge area quickly inits loading operations so as to handle and convey worthwhile quantitiesof material.

Having in mind these primary objects, the invention'provides a methodfor mining and loading large, quantities of thinseam 'c'oalquickly andefiicien'tly with a minimum of head room and without lifting the coalmore than a very short distancethroughout' the entire loadingoperaa011,, By virtue of the novel mining method embodiedi'inconjunction with our improved loading apparatu'sg'the' shattering andbreaking of the coal, both from shooting down and from loading, is heldto "the minimumfso th'a't eventhe most friable coal is taken out in thelarger and more valuablesizes. Moreover the coal is handledjin such awaythatpractically no dirt or impurities from either the top or bottombecome intermixed with it during the mining and loading operations.

Thus coarser and, cleaner coal product is ob:

tained.

As another important object, the invention makespossible thejmob'ileloading of shot-down coal at the mine face with'an apparatus whichoccupies a minimum'of space'inthe timbered part of the room, especiallyin the danger, area near the face. Consequently it is possible to setthe props Very close to the mine face, fthere'by greatly reducing thedanger to miners and per mitting strict compliance with the most recentlaws and regulations requiring close timbering at 'th'e'face.Nevertheless because of its mobility and meneuverabil'ity the machine ofthe invention can'operatein virtually any position or location' within amine and is usable in all types of coal removal operations. I

, The invention also employs a novel construction whichena'bles thecoal-engaging portion or head of the loader to follow and conform Veryclosely to the shape of the minebottom so that in all cases the'lo'aderhead will follow and hu the bottom regardless of irregularities,variations/ in slope andfdir ection'therein so that the loaderwillalways 't'ak e out all thecoaI cleanly 3 and completely. This featuresis of great importance in thin seam mining to insure that the output ofthe machine be kept at the peak and also to insure that full advantageis taken of the relatively small head room existing in such mines.

The details of the preferred apparatus for performing the invention aremore fully disclosed in our co-pending application, Serial No. 551,828,filed August 30, 1944, and now Patent No, 2,430,364.

, space within the kerf to build up a relatively thick bed of cuttingstherewithin. v Thisrstep is contrary to, ther conventional practiceof-clearing outa'nd removing most of those cuttings from the V ,kerf. Asa result, a substantial bed of cuttings i'sleft underlying theoverhanging mass of coal Briefly described, the invention provides amobile, track-mounted loader having a hat elongated loading head adaptedto, be projected, into the undercut kerf of a shot-down face of coalwithout requiring any settings of jacks or other such usualparaphernalia in frontor inlayof the loading head. The loading headcomprisesa fiat belt conveyor occupying most of the length and breadthof the head so as to be projected entirely through the under-cut beneaththe shotdown'm'ass' to the solid face of the coal. Said conveyor isarranged so that the upp r flat portion travels rearwardly and carrieswith it whatever coal may be deposited upon it. Along either side andacross the front end of the loading head are provided power-drivenrotary means for dig-- ging into and picking up material in their orbitsof movement and conveying same upwardly and toward thecentrally-disposed conveyor belt for deposit thereupon. Said rotary,feeders are thus adapted to clear a path for the advance of the conveyorunder and through the coal and cuttings lying in the kerf. Upon theremoval of such relatively loose, fine material in the kerf theoverhanging shattered masses of v coal progressively fallupon. theconveyor and are carried by it to thejrear. I

'By a plurality] of internal pivot joints and connections the loaderhead is so articulatedwith respect to the rearward portionsof themachine v and conveyor that it is adapted to lie updn and conformclosely to the bottom surface of the mine regardless of whateverirregularities and difference'in slope or direction may exist betweenthe plane in which the supporting tracks are laidand those of the bottomunderlying the shotdoWn coal. This feature oi the invention is of greatimportance because it enables the load ing head always to underlie andremain substantially parallel to the bottom strata of the shotdown coalso that a complete load gnof said mass can be effected at alljtimes whifthe loading head remains at the bottomand thus talges advantage of theentire headroom available.

The conveyor within the loading head con':

tinues rearwardly beyond the end of said head proper and is inclinedupwardly 3 1 t highenghgh to overlie a wider intermediate belt conveyor:wi' respect to which it has horizontal pivotalrnove ment. Theintermediate conveyor at itsrean end overlies in turn a third rearwardlydisposedgb'elt conveyor which carries the coaljbaekwardly at any desiredhorizontal angle for deposit injthe ultimate receptacle. Thisentire'assembly is 'rngve able on a carriage along; the trackwayiivl'lichis stationed preferably in the centerlof th mine o m so that evoadc' can ieedi mushi into Operating p s nlai d, s t adl y, w th rawnandconveyed to-another.part;w the mine intermediate operations inthatlroon'r. f

Novel method steps areemployed inprepa'ring the l o o n by he abbveresci bc appa: ratus. In accordance with the invention the coal isundercut by a kerf cutter in the conventional after theJkerf-has beencut. The coal then being drilled and, shot down in the usual Way, themass of; coal. breaks away from the roof and settles onto the b'ed'fofmachine cuttings so that it is supported by said cuttings several inchesabove the mine floori This operation has the incidental advantage ofreducing theQreakage or degradation' of the coal into small lumps, theshot-down mass being parted from the roof and settling in a relativelyintegral mass on the cutting's'bed. The presence ofsaidbed is even moreimportant, however, in facilitating-the entry and operation of theloading head within the kerf. The bed of cuttings provides a relativelyeasy and uniform medium for the advancing and conveying action of thefeeder rolls on the loader head so that said head can be moved into andthrough the kerf space occupied" by the bed of cuttings without greatdifficulty and without disintegrating any of the larger lumps of coalabove. When the loading head has been advanced beneath the shotdown massa sufficient distance and the bed of cuttings in that; areahas-beenpicked up and loaded outby the feeders and; conveyors, then theoverhanging mass of shattered coal'will fall; usually of its ownweight,onto the loader belt and be carried away in prime condition.

By advancing the pivotally' connected loading head forwardly andangularly, the entiremass of shot-down coal can thus be loaded outwithjthe minimum expenditure of time and i pt er. It will be notedthat-{except for the small amount of fine coal-comprising the bed "of"cuttings, none of the coal is lifted or forced upwardly during theloading operation in order to get it upon the loader belt, but-fallsthereupon ash; is undermined. Thus a minimum of vertical space isrequiredf or the r ostjefilcient operationof the loading apparatusand'this feature in itself greatly contributes to; the quality .Qfthecoal loaded out.

Manyfeatures of the invention are also ape plicable when the kerf is cutat the top of the seam. In this operation, of course, the supportingbedof cuttings cannot be provided and consequently the progress of theloading head, into the bottom of the shot-down mass cannot be so rapidand uniform. Nevertheless the loading head isc'apable of digging itsWay, as. previously describedgthrough thebottom strata of the shotdownmass and lifting and carrying away the coal therein while'the overheadportions of that mass fall onto the conveyor. In this 'forrnjof mininthe lack of the cuttin s bed issoinewhat compensated for. by the factthat the drillholes for the explosives aremade near. the bottom ofthe'seam, so that the shattering effect of the explosive isv greatestalong theseam bottom, 7 As 'ii lt .8 ier ra ments of the shattered masswill be more 'concentrated in the lower strata and thus, to suchextent,will facilitate the entry and op rat on. of, the l ladinghea -f n h s. oeration as well it will be understood that the leading head, throughoutits length, fol1o\ zs the contour of the seam bottom -rege'trdless ofthe pitch and/or transverse inclination thereof, and all of thebeneficial features of said loading head construction are applicable aswill be understood and hereinafter more particularly described.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description of theinvention and the following detailed description as well areillustrative and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictivethereof.

Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of theinvention illustratedby way of example in the accompanying drawings, asomewhat diagrammatic overall view of the mobile loader in operatingposition is shown in Fig. 1. This view represents a typical mine room orentry bein advanced inwardly toward the solid face I between solid sidewalls M and N. The shaded area B represents a mass of coal which hasbeen undercut by the method hereinbefore described and then shot-down tolie upon a bed of machine cuttings C .therebeneath (Fig. '7). A trackway5 of two parallel mine rails is laid longitudinally centrally of theroom as shown, the tracks terminating just short of the outer face F ofthe shot-down mass. Rows of roof-supporting timbers or props 'I areprovided throughout the cleared portion of the room, the space betweensaid props usually being approximately 3 ft. from center to center. Inthe arrangement shown, it will be noted that the inner row of props isspaced quite close to the face F, in practice being placed as close asone foot therefrom. This spacing of the props is in accordance withrecent safety recommendations of state and federal mining departments.The spacing of said props 'I is uniform throughout the room except forthe area necessary to accommodate the trackway 5 (approximately 4 ft.)also the props 8 nearest the track in the row adjacent the face F areoffset from the track approximately one foot, as shown, for purposeshereinafter described. The width of the room between the walls M and Nis, as shown, the

customar distance of approximately 24 ft. and the length of depth of thekerf between face I and face F, which determines the lengthwisedimension of the mass of coal B, is approximately 6 ft. in theillustrative example shown. It will be understood, however, that thesedimensions are not critical and that the principles of the invention areadaptable to different situations and mining operations.

Referring to the general layout of the loading machine (Fig. 1) samecomprises the forward or inward portion I known as the loading head,which is made up primarily of the centrally and longitudinally disposedflat belt conveyor I0 I, the rotary side feeder bars I02 and I03 and therotary end feeder bar I04 (Fig. 2). The rear end of said loading headmay be considered as terminating at the rear end of the feeder bars I02and I03. However, the conveyor belt IOI continues rearwardly therebeyondto the rear roller I05 and between those points the conveyor is inclinedupwardly to form the driving and elevating portion of the loadingmechanism. The next unit of the apparatus comprises generally theintermediate, wide belt conveyor 30, the inner end of which underliesthe rear end of the loader conveyor l0! and the rear end of whichinclines upwardly and rearwardly to feed onto the forward end of theconveyor 40, comprising the final unit of the apparatus considered as awhole.

As will be seen from the drawings, means are provided for affordingseveral loci of internal articulation. for the conveyor belt IOI so thatit and the loader head can turn in a plurality of directions and inseveral planes in order to effect the greatest possible conformity ofthe loader head with the surface of the mine floor while enabling thecoal conveying apparatus to be kept as low in height as possible. Forthis purpose a plurality of horizontal transverse hinges or swivels areprovided throughout the length of the conveyor IIO.

Pivotal freedom of motion about its longitudinal axis is provided forthe loading head a short distance to the rear of said first transversepivot. Thus it will be seen that the loading head I0 has substantialfreedom of angular movement up and down about the pivot M0 and also canturn about its own longitudinal axis through the pivot provided by jointE49. It will be noted that both said pivot joints are mounted in thespace between the upper and lower runs of the conveyor belt IOI.

Means are provided for permitting a horizontal angular swinging movementof the entire conveyor lilI, including all parts associated therewithfrom the loading head back to and including the rear roller I05. Thisswinging movement is designed to take place about a vertical axis at therear end of unit 20. Thus it will be seen that the entire framestructure comprising the units I0 and 20 may rotate horizontally aboutthe axis 220 and in the present preferred embodiment of the inventionthis freedom of rotation is preferably at least I In accordance with theinvention the rear conveyor unit 40 is upwardly and rearwardly inclinedto deliver the coal into any suitable receptacle such as a mine car onthe tracks 5. Said conveyor unit 40 is also designed to be rotatablehorizontally about its forward end so as to deliver the coal at anypoint within a substantial arcuate sweep of its rear end.

Preferably, in accordance with the invention, means are provided at theforward ends of both shafts I02 and I03 to enter into and break up coalmasses which lie directly ahead of the forward end of the loading headI0. For this purpose frusto-conical disintegrator members I00 and I93are mounted on reduced, forwardly projecting ends of the shafts I02 andI03 respectively. Said disintegrator members are preferably providedwith radially extending teeth i932 which operate to carry out theintended purpose of said devices.

Preferably, and in accordance with one important operative feature ofthe invention, the loading head 10 is moved from place to place withinthe shot-down coal area B (Fig. 1) by means of traction ropes or cablesrather than by the motor-wheel drive of the carriage unit 30. Thisfeature of the invention makes possible the maximum application of powerto the advancing and turning movements of the loading head withoutrelying upon the traction of the drive wheels tilt which would tend toslip under any substantial load of the nature required to move theloading head under and through the shot-down mass. Accordingly, meansare provided in connection with the forward units I040 of the apparatus,to apply drum driven cables to the work of '50 moving the loading head.

A description of the operation of the invention will now be given. Asthe first step in preparing the coal for the loading out operationsto beperformed by the hereinabove-described mobile loader, we undercut thesolid face of the coal across the room (conventionally a distance ofabout 24 it), using any suitable form of half- 37 eu'etlietheefiiee,for"iaifiplethat eohiieritibrfalli elite/h m e99. Saiiirifahhihe'cdhinrisesa eiit er war tnu hevifiee eritter em "with em;-aiae teeth aes-ie-nea'te have: aim-e aha emu-ad fiieh''htly mese'a orpreviaed with adjustable clbeure *su'c'h as the maged-gate see W111 e 1*fiofiih; may 'betil-te'd il' hwardly or down" ai lly *th lii'isemtireerie'ss ofthe rear end fob'riing, saitl closure thereby controllingthe amount (if btitff en'y, permitsee to escape through =said*reereeeiiihg. 'Wheh-thegat'e is fuligweloeeeL-asat em be in theoperation 0f the invention hetemam he'sci ibei, the e utting s dragge'ci in to thfe base h ina'c'hihe-b'y the chain wi11-be retumed r f frorh*whi'elh theyeame without esdf th'e 'reanof themac'hine. A ei-iiii-la'rnet-eirewn, be hrevmee lor the machin'es'(ifthetype where the e allliwedtoe'scahe fromth'e side'rather tHan'the- Feai oFtihe machine. Ifd-tffou'nlthat not all the cuttings are 'rquirel t bef k'ept ih the fkifx'a cbhtfdlled amount thi'eo f ma be lowed "t: eca'pe through thevariable opening 01 gate #86; r I

l i'siiiiiih'g a typical thin seam-6f coal A (Figs.

"'7 (P9) having 'a thickness of aphi oximately 23 i" a k rf Ea-pia'i'oiiimately eix -'i'n ches in here-ht ahiiahfifoizimately t feetinlepth is mt along the bottom thereof, leaving thereabove ah eveeneng fsolia co'aFB aii hrexiinatel-y 22 -inehes high. In accor ance with the{ih-Ventioh, s'te'fis are taken to builii lib a substantial bed ofmachine ciit'tifigs in the-kerf E, i. e. the relatively fi'nefifaginents of "coal "fo'rmeiti by the ciittih'g actihn of the ""teethon "the biittr bar of "the "lier firig 'fnachine. '"I'n hi'ior"practice, it has been cusftomery for the 'inachine nfa'ris helper("called -"a Sc'faplef) "t'o shovelth'at"portibnbf 'theinachi'r'iehiitti'ngs "carried out 'frohi under the kerf by' the cutting chain'awayfrciin the rear or "sidehf "the hfachirie tohive'nt s'ai'dclittingrs froinbeing'cari'ji eiiback into the ke'l'ff 'by'the ietiirnmovement lbf'the (flitting chem. Itiha's also been customary 'forthesraber'to'ha ie a lobe-handlei;l"shvfelffr iinovifig Hem within the kerjthe remaining rfia'chiiie clittingshot carried ontby the eefivey- Zingaction oi the cutting chain. This practice *has prevailecibecauseheretofore it has been de- -sire d to -provide the -maximu1 n-fa11 forthe coal when '-it-isshot down so as to break it up to the -greatestextent and --thus make it less difficult to doed out by-hand.Inaccordanoe withthe present" invention, however, it is desired toretain -and/or-returnwithin the kerf virtually all -of the machinecuttings. Consequently thespractice' of -removing the cuttings from the-rear or --side of the machine -when same are carried out by'the iouttin'gx-chain, 'is eliminated, said cuttings being return'eii *i'ntothe -kerf as aforesaid. hikewise the former practide'-of=the scraerinishovllin'g the mafchine cuttings from winder -the but is not ewoweu.

mately 4 inches thick 1h the' ih es'eii t anuemttive eeejmelewie 7).

' the nert --e1;ep undercut ririags's hf(503331- 13 is drilleu afid ownexiflosivein the usuiil Way, time *hai -tin g it froin th'e reef R by 'ac1ea vage space N. The shot-downrhEss iB will 'the'h ies't tip'on anflbhipres's "the bed "6f cti tings C, axe that said tea is ieiiuc'ed toappreiiiihat'ely a thi'-H'riess df 33 hes. "The bed of 'iii'iti'r gs "C*so @usih'ioiis "the taller the "m ss is that 'it*reinaiii's-serni-bolid. That is, although fractured thiiiugho ut by theshooting and telling ecnbp. *B dees not thereu'b'on disiritegiate orfall jabart'fiito fragments or lumps, but remems'rdr the i'nost "partinbo'sition as a senii-'so1ic'l"ix'ias whic s'iibjeet to "readyseparation into -r1a- *avely -lare liilfip's when the suppoit of the"be?! c is removed. The bed of "ctittings 'c itself, a1- th'oiiiih"cempressed by "the weight of "the shotaownmes B, is nevertheless made uijfil'ch i"e1ative'lyfihe ant friable fragments 'thatit imejybe"reaaily'peh'etrateq'arid dug out, as b 'ahand pick, for example.ljiiending uhhn "the haft'ihss and fi iability of the "oalior'rnihgfth'esemiiso'lifd shot-Gown mass Bfihiore or less (if the sup- .pdrting bedor cuttings may be "rembvea, .bfit when an overhang thereof has -benproduced, depending in extent upen the nature of saidicbal 'mass 'B, theundercut portion thereof will "fall 6f its own Weight-and break upintoflu'mps loverithe space'fror'n which theshpportingibed C 'has beenremoved (Fig. 7), In some Very hard -coa1s it may be necessary tostrikelthe overhanging mass with a pick in order to loosen or startEits'fall but ordinarily it will fall of its own weight when a suflieientclearance of thesupporting bed C there- -beneath has been made.

*Atter 'the coal mass B has been shot down-and '-is -resting upon 'the-:bed :of cuttings z'as previously deseribed, the invention next bringsinto operation the mobil'e 'Ioader 'hereinbefdre described in detail.First, "i'of "c'ourse, the :cu-t'ting machine 600 iS removed from.thewoom orlplac'e and the :pIaee- -is -u1iy timbereii as shown in *Fig."1. The loader is theh oiight up te the -shot-adown face F (Fig. 1),bi-iig fii'bplieii thereto by the "earriage wheels 304. V

a next steb er the lead'm'g liberation, ii; is th'e'n 'feasibl'e tom'dve the' l'oading mead Hneefly forwardly ihto the k'if E 'aiiii bed(if ma'chiiie "c'littiiigs C and "then g'r'adually to advance same as"the machine cuttings C "and the shot flown mass 6f coa are rogressivelyleeing ioaded and conveyed away as shown by '15, "the loading head beingso moved with it "reaches the solid wall *I, "For this operation the rae 2'69 is fextendeh "through the he'ave on bracket 2 68 "and isuefrwa'ru to "be fixed to a "reef 'jek J aHjacfit the for-ware end "(ifthe loading Head "loading head H1 will beiprojected forwardly in a pathparallebtothetrackse5' andbeyond the ends thereof -(Fig. "7) andiultimately into the ad- *vanded position shown-in -Fig. 1. iB'e'forebeig'irihing emh forward tinoveinent sthe conveyor I01, the feeder'rollsI02, I03 and I'M and the disintegrator cones I90 and [9| are all set inoperation. The feeding and cutting teeth H5 (or ribs 115a, as the casemay be) on roll I04, assisted by the cones I90 and f9], dig into andload onto conveyor [ill the relatively easily penetrated coal fragmentscomprising the bed of cuttings C (Fig. '7). This operation clears aspace in the kerf E into which the loading head can be advanced. It willbe understood that the maximum height of the loading head (Fig. 3) ispreferably less than that of the compressed bed C after the mass B hasbeen shot down, although this is not essential for the reason that thefeeder members or loading shafts of the loading head are so designed asto dig and load shot down coal in addition to the machine -cuttings. Assaid advance progresses under the pull of the ropes 261 and 269, theside feeder rolls I02 and IE3 also enter the kerf and dig and load ontothe conveyor ID! the parts of the bed C lying along the sides of theadvancing head l0, thereby facilitating its advance through said bed andkerf.

As the loading head is so advanced along the path continuously beingcleared for it by the feeding or conveying action of the feeders, thesupport provided for the over-hanging mass B is progressively removed.Consequently the large coal lumps and other fragments making up thatmass will fall of their own weight onto the moving surface of theloading head conveyor iill, as shown in Fig. '7. In some cases, thoughrarely, it may be necessary to loosen an arched or relatively solidportion of mass B with a hand pick to facilitate its cascading onto theconveyor. Thus the loading head will quickly and steadily advance untilit reaches the solid wall I and all the broken coal in the kerf andabove the rectangular space occupied by the head and for some littledistance on either flank thereof will have been loaded out to thewaiting receptacle by the action of the series of conveyor units I'll,20. 33 and 40 (Fi 3).

When the coal overlying said rectangular area has been fully loaded out,then it will be practicable to begin to load out the coal in therighthand half of mass B as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. For this purpose itis desired to swing the loading head Hi gradually toward the right,while simultaneously advancing the entire loader forwardly along thetrack 5 to the extent necessary to ultimately bring the loading head byforward and turning movements into the position shown at the extremeright-hand of Fig. 1 and Fig. 8. This operation is performed by a,series of advancing and turning movements permitted by the rotation ofthe loading head ill and its rear extension 29 about the pivot 22!]. Forthe purpose of effecting such movements the jack J-l is removed so thatthe pull exerted from jack J--2 operates directly upon the side bracket255 and its sheave 265. Also, jack J is removed and advanced to theposition J--3, the rope 269 being attached thereto and run directly fromthe drum 256. This rope arrangement induces a lateral pull upon theloading head causing same to swing gradually to the right as the loaderis advanced forwardly so that the end of the loading head tends tofollow the face I of the solid coal and to sweep thereacross and aroundthrough the successive positions shown in Fig. 8.

After the coal has been loaded out in the right-hand half of the mass B,the same operation is repeated in the opposite sense toward the left'toload out the other half of the mass, as indicated in Fig. 1. In thisoperation jack J3 will be moved to position J-4 and jack J-2 to theproper position to the right of that occupied by J-3 (Fig. 8).

The use of ropes and jacks to effect all loading and operationalmovements of the mobile loader is important because it provides thenecessary power toturn and translate the loading head into and throughthe material. This function could be eifected, very inadequately if atall, by the drive of the track wheels 304 because it is impossible toprovide sufficient traction in that manner. However, it will be notedthat the loading head can be advanced or projected into shot-down coal,such as the mass B, without having to set up or make place for any jacksin areas beyond where coal has been loaded out. That is the loading headis, by the arrangements shown and described, projected first into thecoal to be loaded ahead of any jack or other apparatus set up to pull itthereinto. Similarly the loading head is turned through its arcuatelateral loading operations by pull exerted on the sheave brackets 265and 268, which brackets are located well to the rear of the forward endof the loading head. This arrangement obviates setting up any jack orother support or apparatus ahead of the actual loading movements of theloading head and thus makes it possible to project the loading head intoa shot-down mass and clear out the coal inthat mass without any advancejacking, timbering or other preparatory operations.

By following the outline of the loading head In through its successiveloading positions, it will be noted that all of the shot-down coal inthe width of the 24 ft. place has been loaded out, during whichoperations the loading head I!) has remained entirely within theshot-down coal area B and thus timbering is possible within 6 inches to1 foot of the face F of the shot-down mass of coal. The only change fromthe conventional arrangement required by the plan of close timberingshown in Fig. 1 is the moving of props 8 one foot from their usualpositions as previously described.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the loading head In isadapted to travel easily and relatively rapidly through the kerf Ebecause the compacted bed C is comprised of fragments relatively smallin size and of homogeneous content which present a readily penetratedmass to the action of the feeder members. Moreover it will be noted thatall of the shot-down coal constituting the fragmented mass B issupported above the loading head by the bed C so that in loading saidcoal always falls downward onto the conveyor belt llll. Consequentlypractically none of the lumps of coal are ever lifted or elevated duringtheir removal from the mass B. This feature of the invention not onlyaffords the minimum handling of said lumps during the loading operation(thereby minimizing degradation thereof) but it also prevents theircoming in contact with the mine floor and so avoids the contaminationthereof which frequently results from intermingling with rock and dirtparticles adjacent the floor.

Due to the ability of the loading head to take on coal lying on bothsides and the front end of said head, a large floor area is quicklycovered and loaded out with the minimum travel of the head. It will benoted further that the coal caramuse ilii ri-ed-reamvardlyzbyztheconveyor I M is maintained eta low elevel throughoutitsitravel,ithaonlyelevw tionizthereofitbeingi that necessary1toztide'liverszsame fronnthe rear end zofct'he conveyor 2M1 onto thecentral conveyor unit and thence ontozthe rear conveyor unit'r lll.Each. ofatheseelevationseisjfby virtueiof'thelowheighteharacteristios'iof :the machine 1 as a -=whole, of :the slowestpossible extent and: in practice 1, we :have ioundttha-t no piecei'ofcoal will'be raised=moresthan;12%inchessahove the "floor-.ofztheminerthroughout ltsf-travel son the mobile: loader.

After: the ooalvinztheshot-rdown :areaIB'has all been loadedzouta-thenmobfle loader is moued: back into :the :position :shown Fig.1, ready to moved;by traction.adriueltoianotherqolace.

:In :Figsmi-B "T3118 TlShGWH avar ious i'typica'l conditions or minezrbottom'ztovwh-ich the sloading t'head .l'.0 ofourmobilezloaderrisdesignedcto adapt itself so as;always:tol1iefflat=inueonformity zwith lthe 1 bottom oftheizseam thmughouttrtheiengthio'frsaid head.These-mewsiarehighiydiagrammaticand aremtended"toemphasizeieertafinoperational feer tunes "without (regard :to details :of :bhe estructurealready disclosed. .iEig. I4 shows :the ibottom K beneathtthe: kexfnitchedfiorwardlysandmpwardly withrespectstoithe: bottomdiv onwhiwh thettraok fi is: mounted. As he rseenvthentransuensei hmge ism-permits thefonwand part of :conveyor' unit-.20 toslope downwardlyntowardwtherfloor:beyond the tracks, whileithe :hinge 2M0 permits the loading head E H):tossiopeiupwardlymlnng' the pitched? bottom-K.simiiariyisaidmlurality.zofahinges permits the loading head to adaptitself equally well toatlie opposite condition rshmm .in aEig. where thepitohrof ctheibottomfKxis-zdoumward sani'l *fom'rard withiriespect .tOthGSfiOQML.

..-It will 'be understood that in bothwsuoh cases, as in -others,?-thebottom :K .mayealso .be pitohetl transversely, whereunonzthe axialswivel AM! per mits the loading head no -.to eonform to such transversepitch. :It will be clear .that by these means ,the-loadingmeadwilLingenerallseaenabled automaticallytoiollowlandaoonformltoany-directionsorirreg ularityvof the mine bottom:it may encounter. Theifreelyswiveled headmis pneierably of such length(about sixlieet) .as-conforms to the length .oikerhcut by theecuttingimaohine, and Within .suchlength T.the pitch of .the bottom will,normallybe unifiorm because-of the-rigidity of ,thecutter'bar.

By virtue of theforegoing, the feeder rolls r1112, 1113 and IMwilkalwaysbe-in 'functioningposition throughout theirlength andwillthuspermit'the loading of ,.coal to thefiill capacity ofithejnead I,a"

at:a1ltimes,both broadside and at .thefront thereof. f This featureis'ofgreat'importance in;the mine ing'o'f'thin seams whenthe amount of coalabove any'unit area of the bottomfis-rlatively small.

I Itwili be understood that these aspects of the invention are important"and applicable regardr less of whether the kerf "be 'cut 'at the bottomoT-the-seam or at the top, In some eases the formation of the 'roofmay-dictate *the cutting of the kerf at the top, "as when theroofmaterial is I soft-or weak for a distanceabove the true 'coal seamand "therefore would tend to ran with the coal when the seam isundercut. Because-of the novel ability of "our loader -tooperate *in 'ashotdown area while permitting very close timbering up to and "along theshot-down faee, "bottom outting is possiblewitha relativelyweak roofbecause of theadiiitional support provided by anon close timbering butwhen the roo'f is'too weak=nevertheless, *the olo'se tim'beringpermitted -is natm'ail-y zin s w thE-MSQzGf main-line haula'gellocomotives re uires that' top or lodttom material 'bei'rem'oved inheadings or haulage-waysso as to make height in acl'dition to ttre eoalseam height; "howevergin t rooms 7151B law does not so "require, abecause @rthe oost'o'im-ak ing height inaudit'i'oii to tlae-seam h'eightrooms, suoha'proeedure has mot been heretofo're adopted in wontheus'e'oi -oloile eoallloadin equip- H 'qihaseoflthednvention'makes itfpossible to bring regular largesizefliaulage-way cars iii-to :and alongtne rooms and load tliefishot down coal directly im th'em "wane :usingour mobile loader. s 'opei. ,tiomentailsfithen emoval of arelativelynamowstr'ip of topoi bottom rookfth at is 'inerel-y along that--par t of the room oocupied by e traekway orpassageway for thefmineears and e-oarriage-of theloader.

"The novel menstruation "and operation of our loader i-t *possible to'provide 'suh additional height alon-g' the central *traekw-a'y' orpassageway in a mine room of aver-age width (suoh a-the-Z l foot 'w fderooms herein described) and, operating t-he Header from suh he'ightenedpassageway, "load out an of the =coal across "the entire room, theleaiilin-g "head operating at the seam height and w'holly warm the *shotblown.

area B of the seam as previously described. EBy eon'fin ing the mmoval(if *the bot-tom or top "rook to the relatively narrow stripcorresponding to said. trackway or passageway, the-oapauity of the coaltransporting ears is very greatly "increased withouta substantialinorea'sein the costof the mining operation. "Thatisfibytakingup bottomrocktoa depth'ofat most say. rzin chesbel'ow the seam bottom "fQrLawidth of say 4 feet along the central trakway space'in a room about 24feet wide, our loader makes .it possible tolload out all the shot-downeoal for 'the entire width of the room, theiloaderiheadoperating 0n the.normal seam Lbottom throughout that width while the other parts of theloader stay \in the depressed trackwaysand deliver theloaded coal to thelarge cars on suolntrack; Similanly an i-equivalent operation {may beperformed by removing e -like amount of the top iltoek where that ismore dosirable or ,feasible under the particular mining eonditionsenoountered, and :in such case the flexible oonstruotion 20f vonr:loader :enables it :to takenut all the coal within.lihBzSBtIH-lhBifihb-Shtil'rdown area without interference or"difliculty.

6, 1:0 and 511 illustrate an operationof the type :referred to. :Fig. i6shows :how the :hinged construction. 05 :t'he 11111175 it! :aml'km.enabl'e the loading'nead L0 '42) ioonionm throughout its "length and(width to a bemih stormation where the seam bottom K2 has a longitudinalpitch as shown.

Referring again to the operations illustrated in Figs. 6 and 10, it willbe seen that the pony truck 5130 is preferably placed below the loadinghead Ill, generally intermediate the front and rear ends thereof, andthe supporting rollers 5| and H thereof are elevated by the meanspreviously described so as to bring the forward end of the head justabove the lip T of the seam bottom K2. When so positioned the head canthen be moved forward by jacks and ropes in the usual manner so as toenter the mass B of shotdown coal resting on the bottom K-2. As theloader is projected forwardly the bottom thereof will travel over therollers 5H] and 5 which afford support for the loading head untilsufficient of its length rests upon the seam bottom K2 as to insure thatit will continue to move therealon in conformity with the pitch of saidbottom. As will appear from Fig. 10, the rear roller 5 of the pony truckwill be raised to a level above that of the forward roller 5H! so as toimpart the proper initial inclination to the head Ill. When the head I Bhas advanced far enough to establish its support and position upon theseam bottom K2, the rollers 5I6 and 5!! of the pony truck may be loweredand the truck rolled back to its usual position adjacent the carriage ofunit 30.

It will be understood that the pony truck may be used in a similarmanner for the condition illustrated in Fig. 6, except that the rollers5H] and El I will be elevated equal amounts because of the fact that thebottom Kl is level. further be understood that after the loading headhas been advanced forwardly into the position indicated in Fig. 6 (i. e.equivalent to the central, advanced position shown in Fi s. 1 and 3,

thereafter the loading head may be moved laterally and diagonallyforwardly to load out the entire width of the square shot-down faceacross the room at both sides thereof, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 8.Throughout this entire operation the remaining units of the loader staysubstantially within the trackway area, which is of the greater heightpreviously described.

In Fig. 11 there is also shown the manner in which the loader may beused for gobbing or stowing away rock which has been drilled and shoteither from the top or bottom in advance of the trackway 5 preparatoryto shooting down and loading the next forward mass of coal B in theroom. It will be understood that after the loader has cleared away allthe shot-down coal lying on a bottom K-l (Fig. 6), for example, theloader will be temporarily withdrawn and the cutting machine 600 (Fig.18) brought into position on the bottom Kl to cut the next advance kerfin the solid face I. The cutting machine will then be withdrawn and thatpart R of the rock bottom Kl lying ahead of the trackway 5 will bedrilled and shot to a width and depth equal to that of said trackway.Then the loader will be again moved into loading position and theloading head will be advanced at the level of the track bottom in theusual way by ropes and jacks straightforward into the shattered mass ofrock R ahead of it. In this manner the loading head may be utilizedpromptly to load out and clear the depressed space in advance of thetrackway. It will be understood that the loader may be used in the samemanner to remove rock shot from the top of the mine, above and inprolongation of the trackway, when the desired additional It will 14height is obtained in that manner instead of by removing bottom rock.

After the bottom or top rock has been drilled and shot as described, therear discharge conveyor ill may be used to gob or stow the rock loadedin the manner just described. As, will be clear from the previousdescription the rear, upwardly inclined conveyor 40 is rotatable aboutthe vertical axis 45! so that it may be set at any desired horizontalangle with respect to the trackway 5 and the intermediate conveyor unit30. Hence by turnin the discharge conveyor 40 as shown in Fig. 11, forexample, the rock loaded out by the loading head i K! may be promptlydisposed to the sides of the track to form the gob usually produced byhand operations. Wherever necessary, preps i may be temporarily removedto permit the conveyor 4E3 to enter and turn through spaces in the roomat the sides of the trackway.

While in the foregoing, application of the invention to the mining andloadin out of a face of coal in an advancing room has beenillustratively described, it will be understood that the mobile loaderof our invention and the operation of the method herein disclosed areequally applicable to other mining operations in mines of the typedescribed, particularly those wherein the room and pillar system isemployed. For example, the loader may be utilized in making crosscuts,in retreating pillar removing operations and in fact in any and all ofthe mining operations customarily employed in said room and pillarsystern. This versatility of operation is largely a result of themaneuverability of the units of the machine around and into variousparts of the mine and with respect to each other. That is, the loadinghead can be swun through a very wide angle with respect to the middleunit 30 and also the rear unit 40 can be swung similarly so that theapparatus as a whole can be positioned and operated in virtually anyangular relation to be found in any of the various mining operations.Moreover it will be understood that the loader need rarely be idlebecause it can be readily moved from one room or place to another overthe usual track system in the mine, so that while the kerfcuttingmachine is preparing a face in one room, the loader may be used in itsphase of the operations in another room and vice versa.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What we claim is: I

1. The method of mining and loading a seam of coal which comprisesundercutting a kerf in a room face of substantial width, shooting downonto the seam bottom the mass of said coal over said kerf, forming arelatively narrow passageway of greater height than the seam along theroom short of the shot-down face, projecting a coal digging andconveying means from a support in said passageway onto the seam bottomof the shot-down mass and loading out said mass for the full width ofsaid room by advancing said means into said mass along the seam bottomthereof and across said bottom to the sides of the room to load out saidcoal and convey it to a receptacle in said passageway while keeping saidsupport in the passageway.

2. The method of mining and loading a seam of coal which comprisesundercutting a kerf in a jr-t'fir face "of substsntihi width, shootingonto the seam bottom the mass "of aid of ver said 'lerf, forming *a =relativel narrow -c l eprs- 'sed assageway e'ffgreater h'ignttnantheseamialong the rooin =bottom short bf "tlieshot dbwn fec'e, raisi'r-ig' a'boal' di'ggin'g ajhdcbiweying'nfeans from a'su port in' sa dipsssag'eway onte the seam bottom bfthe' shot down mass-fend ioadingbut{said Miss? for the "full' width b: seiid "room b'y-f'a'dvahcint; aidmeeins i'nt'0 saw mas's alongthe seam bittdin "thereof end transverselyacross said bottom'to the sides of the room to load out said coal indho'nveyih'g the coal sol'oaded to a receptacle in said fipassagewaywhile keeping said support in the apiss'ageway.

3.-'- 1-he method of mini-n'g'and loading a "seam of 'e'oal whichcomprises undercutting a Martin a rooin faxze of substantial width,shooting down ontotnevseam bottom the in eiss ofsa'id coal over saidforming "a relatively *narr'bw pai'sfge Way of greater 'heig'h't thanthe seam along the approximate center line of the room short of theslrot down T3168, @projeting'e coal digging and eoiiveying'means from asupport insaid passageway "onto the sealin bottoin' of the shotdown massand loading out "a square face :for theffull widthof said-room advancingsaid'm'eans' into said *meiss "along. theseam :bottomtheree-f and acrosssaid bott'bhito the sides oftl'le room to lead out a square face "andconveying the coal s'o loaded towreoeptaicle in s'a-idfpassageway whilekeeping said support :in the central passageway.

4'. I h'e method *of "mining 'aind loading a seam ofboai comprisesundercutting "fa ke'rf in axrodm face of sulostttntiall width,"shooting'down' onto the seam bottom the mass of said healover sail-dker-f, ioriming "a depressed a-pa-ssag'eway of greater height than "theseam along the "aipp'rbxh mate center l'in'e'of the room bottom shortofth'e 'shot down iace,-'raisi-ng a coal digging and conveyingme'ans'afroin'a' support in said passageway onto the seam bottom of the shotdown mass and loading out a square face for the 'fu11 width "ofSaidroomby advancing saidmeans into said'niass along the-seam bottomthereof and across said bottom to the sides of the "room to load out asquare fa-ce and'convey ing the coa1'so"1oaded*to a receptacle in saidpassageway.

5. The method of "mining and'loading a seam of coal which comprisescutting a kerf'alo'ng the bottom of said seaimand across a room face ofsubstantial width, forming a bed or *cizttihigs within said ke-rf to@rovide support forthe dercutnoal, shooting down onto'sa-id bed'the'massof nndemut'coail, forming a. relatively narrow passageway below the seambottom along the center of the room short of the showdown-face,projecting coal digging andconveying'nieainsfrom a slipport ih "s'aid'iaeissh geway into eiid through the bed of cuttings on the seam bottomand loading oiit the maiss of sl'iot down toetl for'thefnll Width ofsaid, room by srdvancing said -inuis through Saidbed"alorigftlieseembottom to the solid fade Ehd EEGIOSSSGJid"bofitollifto theside's of theroom to reihove the suppbrting "bed of cuttings and conveying away the'co al which falls onto said 'eonve'yifig means'after reiiioval of saidbed "therebeneath; while maintaining sa'idsubport in the depressedcentral zpass'ageway.

*6. Ihymethodo'fniinihg coal which comprises eutti-ng-a 'ker-f *at the'bottom of a seam, "building upwsupporti'ng bed or coal cuttings withinsaid kerf to a substantial depth, shooting down the dnderciit sehmalbdve-"ssiidikerf, and loading the fragmehtedfi'shot-down deal *byinserting a rel2;=-

tive'ly shallow, ddhg' and narrow digging and conveying-memberiinto'the' bed of cuttings beneath said ifragmented sl'iot-"down mess andprofieeting said member fore-substantial distance into and through saidbed,"digging out andczirryiifg -'a;w'a;y the cuttings *of -s aii'd bed,in the paith' bf the member so as tmremove the "supportingefiectbf thebed the overhanging fragmented c'oalnnd thereby ea-using saiidoverhanging fragments to fell upon the member and be do'nveyd "'out'ofthe mass.

V 7'. A method as speei-fied'in' cl aim '6 wherein the digging andconveying member is moved laterglly toward both sides the mass from "theoint of original insertion so its to load out the entire shot-down mass:by advancing and letters movements. V

- RICHARD PEABE;

REMBRANDT JR.

The following references "aji e of record in the Number '15268 ,58413075335 1,378,830 1,43 1,857 "1,498g506 1,608,149 "-1g628g329 1300;2941,770,934 2,03 L544 2,308,517

umber

